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Synonyms

instead of

Idioms  
  1. Also, in lieu of; in place of; in someone's stead. In substitution for, rather than. For example, She wore a dress instead of slacks, or They had a soprano in lieu of a tenor, or In place of soft drinks they served fruit juice, or The chairman spoke in her stead. Instead of dates from about 1200; in lieu of, which borrows lieu, meaning “place,” from French, dates from the late 1200s; in place of dates from the 1500s; and in someone's stead from the 1200s. Also see under in someone's shoes.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Amid rising energy prices, France announced it will help households and businesses switch to electric power instead of handing out short-term fuel aid.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

"It's also really handy instead of texting when I'm walking the dogs."

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote on Friday that the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve would investigate instead of the DOJ.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

"The inspiration came from systems known from atomic physics, where electrons can occupy different energy states. In photonics, a similar role is played by optical traps, which confine light instead of electrons."

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

He tried to be practical: to be a man instead of a boy.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver